Ukraine 'bans Russia flights to Donetsk and Kharkiv'

Ukrainian aviation authorities have banned Russian airlines from operating flights to Donetsk and Kharkiv, according to Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency.

In a statement, the FATA said: "For Russian airlines flying to airports in these cities, [which has] also closed airspace of Ukraine.

"Rosaviaciya notes that this case is an unprecedented violation of international agreements on air services, materially prejudicial to the rights of passengers and humanitarian blockade leads to the inhabitants of south-eastern Ukraine."